EFL Learners’ Risk-Taking Behavior, Willingness, and Practice, in Speaking Classes and the Challenges they face: Grade 11 of Fide Secondary School in Focus

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating EFL learners’ risk-taking behaviour, willingness, and practice in English speaking classes and challenges they encounter. To achieve this objective, descriptive survey research design was used, and in such descriptive research design, it was required to collect data from large number of respondents so that questionnaire was used as the main instrument to gather data. Besides, classroom observation and structured interview were also used to triangulate the data. Respondents from student population were selected using comprehensive sampling procedure, and all available students, were taken as participants of the study. In addition to this, the four available teachers were made to participate in the study being interviewees. These four teachers’ classes were also observed four times so as to gather data about the practice of learners in the speaking classes. Mixed approaches which were combinations of both quantitative and qualitative date analysis method were employed to analyse the collected data. The quantitative data were presented in tabular form to show the result and the qualitative data were analyzed thematically in statements. The result of this study indicated students have problem of taking risk in English speaking class. In relation to the willingness of the students towards the real practice of speaking skill in EFL classes, they had negative towards its implementation. However some of the challenges students faced when they practice speaking skill were teachers’ methodology that did not help them to develop speaking skill and teachers’ focus on grammar knowledge instead of speaking skill. Finally, possible suggestions were recommended. For instance, the students have to do more practice English exercises in order to improve their speaking skill. In addition, the students should feel responsible for their own learning speaking and building their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to be confident to speak in English.